Jos McLaren – I would love for others to have a future not overshadowed by cancer

Here at Prevent Breast Cancer, we’re always looking for supporters to share their inspirational stories.

Jos McLaren, from Leeds, tells us about how she has used her breast cancer diagnosis as a positive tool towards her passion for music and singing.

Jos, could you please share with us a summary of your experience with breast cancer?

I was diagnosed with Stage 2b breast cancer in May 2020 at the age of 41, during the first Covid-19 lockdown. I had been experiencing a pricking pain in my breast for a while, but the information I found on the internet said this was probably due to hormones and was nothing to worry about. It was when the skin on my breast started to dimple, and my nipple inverted that I knew I should get it checked out. Despite these symptoms I was convinced that there was nothing seriously wrong. So much so that I didn’t even tell anyone I had the appointment.

I remember reading the posters in the breast clinic about how long the appointment would take. “I won’t be here that long”, I thought. As the afternoon went on, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. Eventually, I was invited into a clinic room and the doctor told me that I had breast cancer. Although I put on a brave face I was shocked to the core. It felt very surreal to suddenly be given a cancer diagnosis when I felt so well.

I started chemotherapy and was due to have a single mastectomy in December 2020. In the October I had a pain in my spine and following scans the doctors found that the cancer had spread to my spine. This changed my diagnosis to Stage 4 which means that I am classed as terminal. I completed my course of chemotherapy and I now have on-going 3 weekly injections of monoclonal antibodies designed to block cancer cell growth. I am very well and living life to the full every day.

I’ve always loved singing and writing songs. My response to my prognosis was to write a song, ‘Dying to Live’, to give hope to other people who have a terminal condition, and to remind them to keep living for tomorrow. It’s a song of defiance in the face of terminal cancer and is filled with a belief that I am not done yet, there’s so much more to come. I had the privilege of recording it at Abbey Road studios, and it is now available to listen to on all main streaming platforms.

Do you have any advice or tips for anyone who is going through a similar experience?

My friends and family are an amazing support to me, and I would recommend getting a small group of people around you that you can share your daily struggles and joys with. Let them laugh and cry with you – they need this as much as you do.

What does a breast cancer free future mean to you?

I would love for others to have a future not overshadowed by cancer, and for them to be diagnosed early and treated successfully. I would love it if my experience helped other people get diagnosed early and for their cancer to be successfully treated

Thank you to Jos for her inspiring story.

Learn more about breast pain and breast cancer diagnosis on the Prevent Breast Cancer website.